Electric switch



May 31, 1932.

F. W. SLADY ET AL ELECTRI C SWITCH Filed Dec. 28, 1929 0%; W731i? 42 9 M INVENTOR ATToR EY housing.

Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

FRANK W. SLADY AND OSCAR KUIPFERMAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO LEVITON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPO- BA'IION. OF NEW YORK ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed December 28, 1929. Serial No. 417,062.

This invention relates to an electric switch that can be operated by a pull chain to make and break a circuit. The invention comprises a base or housing in which the swltch 5 mechanism is located and a shaft is provided for operating the switch mechanism. This shaft is journaled in the .housing and also in a bearing in a plate outside of the houslng and is sustained by bolts connected to the The invention will be understood from the description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device; Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the device; Fig. 4 is a section along the line 44 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, reference character 1 indi- 2Q cates the base of'the switch that is made of in sulating material and is preferably somewhat rectangular in shape. The base is provided with a recess or opening 2 for receiving the make-and-break switch to be described later.

A cover plate 3 is provided for the recess in the base.

Screw-threaded bolts 4 having enlarged heads 51in recesses in the base pass through the base near opposite corners thereof and 80 having their threaded ends extending some distance beyond the base.

Insulating sleeves 6 surround the extending portions of the bolts 4, the ends of the sleeves 6 resting against the cover 3. A cross memher 7 of insulating material rests upon the one of the strips 8 is provided with a screwcrating the switch mechanism may pass.

When the housing is used, openings will, of course, be provided therein for entr of the electric wires that are connected to t e binding screws 10. When the housing or casing 12 has straight sides that fit the device somewhat closely, the base 2 and plate 3 should be provided with a recess or depression 2 so that a pull chain can be attached to the switch and threaded through a horn or pull chain guide 12 in the casing, after which the switch [can be inserted into the casing with the intermediate portion of the chain lying in the depression while the switch is being inserted without causing the parts becoming jammed. The horn is so located as to extend in the direction of the chain passing through it when the switch is in place in the casing 12.

A- switch operating shaft 13, which is preferably square in cross-section, is provided with reduced rounded ends which are journaled in the hole 14 in the cross member 7 and the hole 15 in the base 1 which constitute the bearings for the shaft. A pull-chain operated member 16 is mounted on the shaft 13, so that it can turn on this shaft, and is provided with a slotted car 17 to receive the end of the beaded pull chain 18. The ear 17 is extended outwardly so that it will strike one of the sleeves 6 to limit the travel of the member 16 in one direction. 1

A coil spring 19 is mounted on the shaft 13 between the cross member 7 and the base One end of the spring 19 is extended around one edge of the member 16 and the other end of this s ring extends around a lug 20 on an adjustab e member 21 that is mounted on the shaft 13 so that it can turn on this shaft. The adjustable member 21 is provided with lugs 22 that extend along the sides of the narrow portion of the member 7 to prevent the member 21 from turning under normal conditions.

A tongue 23 extends outwardly in a sloping direction from the lower.portion of the member 16 so as to snap behind the teeth 24 on the periphery of the disc 25 that is attached to the shaft 13, so that when the disc 25 is turned, the shaft 13 will also be turned.

The switch mechanism that is located in the recess 2 in the base 1 comprises a wheel 26 of insulating material having teeth 27 that are curved on one side and the end with their other sides lying in radial planes in the wheel 26. A uare hole 28 is provided in the wheel 26 for t e shaft 13. A metal disc 29 on the side of the wheel 26 has flanges 30 extending along the curved sides of two of the teeth 27. Two electric sprin contacts 31 have one of their respective en s bent around the bolts 4, as indicated at 32, and have bends 33 located in recesses in the base 1 to keep these contacts in place and permit their free ends to snap behind the teeth 27 as the wheel 26 is revolved by the shaft 13 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fi 5 of the drawings. The operation is as fo lows: When the pull chain 18 is pulled, it carries the member 16 clockwise, as shown in Fig. 1, and the tongue 23 forces the disc 25 around one-quarter of a revolution, thus turnin the wheel 26 a suflicient distance to close t e circuit if it is open at the beginning of this operation, or to open the circuit if it is closed at the beginning 0 this 0 ration. The circuit is completed from the e ectric wires through the metal strips 8, bolts 4, spring contacts 31, flanges 30 and disc 29 inthe closed position. When the wheel 26 is turned-into the position where the contacts 31 bear against the teeth 27 which do not have the flanges 30 on the curved surfaces thereof, the circuit is open. when the shaft 13 has been turned to close or open the circuit 'and the chain 18 is released, the spring 19 returns the member 16 to its normal position, causing the tongue 23 t9 snap behind the next tooth 24 on the disc 25 preparatory to moving the same another quarter of a revolution. The tension of the spring 19 can be adjusted by pushing the member 21 longitudinally of the shaft and turning the same and then permitting it to return to its normal position.

The electrical connections can be easily made as the binding screws 10 are readily accessible and the device can be easily disassembled by loosening the bolts.

We claim:

1. In an electric switch, a switch housing of insulating material, metallic bolts projecting from one side of said housing, contact strips attached to said bolts outside of said housing, bindin screws on said strips, a cross member of insu ating material connected to said bolts near their outer ends, and a switch operating shaft having one of its ends journaled in said cross member.

2. In an electric switch, a switch housing movable and fixed contact members in said housing, a shaft connected to said movable member and extending outside of said housing, terminals for said fixed members each extending outside of said housing and having one end thereof mounted in said housing, and a cross member connected to each of said terminals near their outer ends and forming a support for the outer end of said shaft, said terminals being insulated from each other and from said shaft.

3. In an electric switch, a switch housing, switch mechanism in said housing, outwardly extending bolts connected to said housing, a cross member spaced from said housing, means for connecting the outer ends of said bolts to said cross member, a shaft associated with said switch mechanism having one end thereof supported by said cross member, and means to cause said bolts to conduct electric current into said housing.

4. In an electric switch, a switch housin switch mechanism in said housing, outward y extending bolts connected to said housing a plate spaced from said housing, means or connecting the outer ends of said bolts to said plate, a shaft journalled in said plate for operatin said switch mechanism, said shaft exten ing through said switch mechanism f and also being journalled in said housing, and

means to cause said bolts to conduct electric current into said housin 5. In an electric switc a switch housing, switch mechanism in said housing, outwardly extending bolts connected to said housing, a plate spaced from said housing, means connecting the outer ends of said bolts to said plate, a shaft journalled in said plate for operating said switch mechanism, means between said housing and said plate for operating said switch mechanism, and means to cause said bolts to conduct electric current into said housing.

6. In an electric switch, a switch housing, switch contacts within said housing, a contact bridging member within said housing, a shaft extending outside of said housing, switch operatin mechanism located on said shaft outside 0 said housing, a cross member engaging the outer end of said shaft, bolts, and terminal members for wires into which said bolts extend, said bolts holding the parts in assembled relation.

7. In an electric switch, a switch housing,

switch contacts within said housing, a contact bridging member within said housing, a shaft extending outside of said housing, switch operating mechanism located on said shaft outside of said housing, a cross member of insulating material spaced from said housing and engaging the ou er end of said operating shaft, bolts, terminal members for wires into which said bolts extend, said bolts holding the parts in assembled relation.

FRANK W. SLADY. OSCAR KUPFERMAN. 

